Knitting machine



KNITTING MAGHINE Filed Sept. 25. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (9M/ey,

' 17 16 19e] X8 Bu Nov. 21, 1939. F. G. wElsBEcKER y 2,180,571

' KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1937. 2 Sheets-Sheet4 2 l 'Gftomeg Patented Nov. 21, 19.39

PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Frank G. Wesbecker, Glenside, Pa., assigner to Arcadia Hosiery (7o., Lansdale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application september 25, 1937, serial No. 165,747

9 Claims.

knitting machines having positive stops for the thread carrier bars.

Shocks, such as those which occur in a fullfashioned stocking knitting machine upon a 10 thread carrier bar striking an end stop, produce Amany undesirable results. These shocks jar the knitting machine and set up vibrations which shorten the life of the knitting machine,as well as loosen the various parts thereof. The shocks also lower the efficiency of the knitting machine. and cause it to produce imperfect articles. The hazard of imperfect knitting due to such shocks is so great that the knitting machine is frequently run at a low or reduced rate of speed in an effort to avoid undesirable4 shocks and obtain satisfactory work. It has, therefore, been a common practice to limit the machine speed to about fifty courses per minute.

With the present improvement, the conventional fullfashioned knitting machine may safelyhave its speed increased to sixty-five or more courses per minute without substantial risk of imperfect work due to thread carrier bar impact shocks. Mechanisms have, heretofore, been proposed for knitting machines to absorb thread carrier barimpact shocks. But these mechanisms, for numerous reasons, have not been generally accepted or considered to be completely satisfactory. One

' important objection to the known shock absorbers is that they act in such an abrupt and sudden manner that they offerv only limited advantage over machines not equipped with a shock absorber.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a new and improved device for absorbing shocks, such as occur when thread carrier bars strike their end stops, which device shall absorb the shocks in a smooth and even operation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved device of the character described which is simple in construction, flexible in its operation, and requires only a minimum of attention from the operator for efficient operation. v y

Other objects will appear .from the following description and the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of this invention. Referring to the drawings, Fig. Iis a rear view. in perspective, of a portion of a conventional full-fashioned knitting machine, and a shock absorber embodying this invention. i

Fig. II is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on lines 1'I---IIv of Fig. I and showing additional 5 portions of a conventional full-fashioned knitting machine for purposes of illustration.

Fig. III is an enlarged elevational view of the shock absorber shown in Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a side view, partly in elevation and 10 partly in cross section, of the shock absorber in Fig. III.

Fig; V is a top plan view of certain details in Figs. I land II and includes resetting stops not shown in the other figures.

Figs. VI to IX are vdiagrammatic views, illustrating the .relative positioning of the friction box and the shock absorber rod (shown in the other figures) in successive stages of operation.

The drawings, in addition to illustrating an ern- 20 bodiment of this invention, show only such parts of the conventional full-fashioned knitting machine as are necessary to an understanding of the invention.

In the conventional fun-fashioned knitting ma- 25 'a longitudinally reciprocating friction box rod 3 through one or more conventional friction boxes 4, which are adapted to be selectively connected to the thread carrier bars I in known manner.

The friction box 4 is frictionally held in driving 35 relation 4on friction box rod 3. This frictional engagement permits relative sliding movement between friction box rod 3 and friction box 4 when the driven carrier bar I is arrested by the usual end stop (not shown). 40

A conventional coulier mechanism (part of one being shown in Fig. I) translates the rotary y movement of a4 cam shaft (not shown) into the reciprocative movement required by the friction box rod 3. This coulier mechanism includes a 45 draw arm 5 carrying rollers 6 for coaction with a coulier cam 'I to oscillate a small rocker arm 8 and a large rocker arm 9 about their pivot studs I0 and II in known manner. A cross lhead I2 provides the usual,` positive driving connection 50 between the upper end of large rocker arm 9 and friction box rod 3, so that the latter is longitudinally reciprocated during oscillation of large rocker arm 9.

Each of the thread carrier bars I' is provided' 55 with thread carriers (one being shown at I3 in Fig. II) which supply thread to the adjacent loop forming elements during operation of their-respective thread carrier bars I. The extent of yarn laying movement of the thread carriers I3 is controlled by the usual end stops (not shown) engaging the respective thread carrier bars I. 'I'hese end stops (not shown) abruptly terminate the thread carrier bar travel in a manner which produces a relatively great impact shock and sets up undesirable vibrations in the knitting machine. It is these shocks and vibrations which the present invention substantially avoids and eliminates. This object for the present invention is accomplished by means which absorbs the described shocks in a smooth and even operation, and at the same time reduces the speed of the thread carrier bars I and their thread carriers I3 as the carrier bars I approach their end stops.

'The shock absorber device of this invention is shown in Figs. III and IV and is referred to generally by the numeral I5 in Figs. I and II. This shock absorber device I5 provides a driving connection between the large rocker arml 9 and a shock absorber rod I6. The shock absorber rod I6 is reciprocated longitudinally in machine frame brackets (not shown) and at a lower speed than friction box rod 3. Shock absorber rod I6 carries two stops I1 and I 8, which have selective engagement with the hinge I9 of the friction box 4 (see particularly Fig. V) to periodically reduce the speed of the thread carrier bars I. Stops I'I and I8 are adjustable along shaft I 6 and are preferably set in that position which will eiect their engagement with hinge I9 when the driven carrier bar I is about three-quartersof an inch from the limit of its movement.

The shock absorber device I5 is slidably mounted on the usual back narrowing rod23 and includes a carriage formed by bracket members 20 and 2I These bracket members 20 and 2| are secured together by means of bolts 22 and have complementary parts to provide a split bearing construction for slidably receiving the narrowing rod 23 as shown in the drawings. Bracket member -2I is rigidly secured to a sleeve member 25 which in turn is rigidly secured to shock absorber rod I6 in the desired position of adjustment by means of bolts 26.

As a means for steadying the shock absorber device I5 during its reciprocating movements, the bracket member 20 has rigidly secured thereto a forked member 21 for slidably engaging the usual catch bar shaft 28 as shown particularly in Fig. II.

Bracket member 20 may be an integral part thereof or. may be formed in any desired manner. The periphery of drum 30 is faced with a band 3I of leather or other suitable friction material. Band 3| is suitably secured to drum 30' as, for example, by means of screws 32. A driving arm or element 33 is shaped at its upper end in the form of a split ring or band to encircle and frictionally engage the leather facing 3I of drum 30. Upstanding lugs 34 on the driving arm 33 are connected by a bolt 35 and an internally 'threaded adjusting sleeve or nut 36. Bolt 35 and adjusting nut 36 permit relative adjustment of lugs 34 to secure the desired frictional engagement between driving arm 33 and the leather faced drum 30. A key-shaped slot 31 may be provided in driving arm 33 to more uniformly equalize and distribute the force of frictional engagement about the drum 30. Driving arm 33 is held ill. the assemcarries a drum 30, which bled position shown in the drawings by means of a plate 38 secured to drum 30 by a screw 39, or other suitable means.

If desired, the friction band 3I may be secured to the driving arm 33, rather than to drum 30, without changing the operation-of the shock absorber I5 for the purpose of this invention. Driving arm 33 may be formed of any suitable material, but preferably is of resilient construction. This resilient characteristic will cause the split ring end of driving arm 33 to spring apart as nut 36 is unscrewed.

A driving link 43 (see Fig. I) at one end carries a sleeve 44 pivotally connected to the driving arm 33 of the shock absorber I5 by means of stud 45. A forked member 46 on the other end of link 43 is pivotally connected to large rocker arm 9 by a stud 41. The stud 41 is received within and adjustable along a slot 48 in the large rocker arm 9 to provide for variation in the rate of movement of shock absorber rod I6 as conditions may require.

The stud 41 is preferably secured in such position on large rocker arm 9 that link 43 and shock absorber device I5 will drive shock absorber rod I6 at approximately half the rate of speed at which friction box rod 3 is reciprocated by the large rocker arm 9 and the' intermediate cross head I2.

Operation In the operation of the disclosed mechanism, driving arm 33, due to its frictional engagement with the leather faced drum 30, is normally maintained in fixed position relative to bracket member 20; and link 43 and shock absorber rod I6 reciprocate together along the machine at the same rate of speed. However, when shock absorber rod I6 is subjected to impact forces, hereinafter more fully described, it momentarily advances at .a greater rate than link 43, and driving arm 33 pivots or yields on the drum 30 to permit the bracket members 20 and 2I to move slightly ahead of pivot stud 45. During this yielding movement of driving arm 33, its frictional engagement with the leather faced drum 30 serves to absorb the impact forces in a smooth and even operation and to resist relative movement between shock absorber rod I6 and the driving link 43 with a constant force for the duration of the relative movement.

Adjustment of bolt 35 and nut 36 determines vthe degree of frictional engagement between driving arm 33 and drum 30. In any set position of nut 36, the frictional engagement provides a predetermined invariable resistance to relative movement of driving arm 33 and drum 30 for the duration of their relative movement.

Several factors contribute Ato the smoothness of the shock absorbing operation. The rotary type of yielding driving connection is one factor. The relatively large area of frictional engagement between driving arm 33 and drum 30 is another factor. The constancy of the frictional resistance during absorption of shock is a furgage bracket 52 and arrest shock absorber bar.

I6, and the bracket members 20 and 2| moving therewith, before completion of their reciprocatingmovement in either direction. In the nterval between the arresting of shock absorber rod I6 and reversal of movement of link 43, driving arm 33 will again pivot on the drum 30 and be reset to its normal position with respect to the bracket member 20. It will be understood that this resetting movement is in a reverse direction to the yielding movement during the absorption of shocks.

In reducing the speedof a thread \c arrier bar I at the completionof its movement in either direction, there is only a brief engagemnt between hinge I9 and one of the stops I'I and I8. Under these circumstances, the yielding movement of driving arm 33 about drum 39 is relatively short. 'I'he driving arm 33 may, however, move to a greater extent about the drum 39, and does s o, when shock absorber rod I6, is prematurely arrested or receives an abnormal blow,v

- Whenever the shock absorber device I is sub- Jected to impact forces, it yields and is reset in the manner described. f

The several positions of the friction box hinge I9 and stops I1 and I8 in successive stages of operation are diagrammatically shown in Figs. VI to IX. In considering these figures it will be helpful to bear in mind that hinge I9, friction box 4, the driven carrier bar I, and its thread.

carriers I3 move as a unit, so that hinge I9 and the driven carrier bar I have exactly the same movement.

Fig. v1 shows the hinge I9 in an intermediateposition between the stops II and -I8 as both the hinge I9 and the shock absorber rod I6 move to the right. Rod I6 is moving at half the speed of hinge I9, and stop I8 is set so that it will be overtaken by hinge I9 when the driven carrier' bar I is about three quarters of an `inch from engagement with an end stop. Fig. VII shows the hinge I9 and the stop I8 at the-instant of contact. Hinge I9 continues its movement to the right, but at a gradually reducing rate of speed because of its engagement with stop I9, until the driven carrier bar I is arrested by its end stop. Although stop I8 acts to reduce the speed of hinge I9 and its friction box 4,' friction rod 3 continues to reciprocate at a constant rate of speed, to actuate friction box 4, which slides on friction rod 3, because of the arresting influence of stop I8. The hinge I9 and stop I8 are now in the position shown by Fig. VIII, and stop I8 is ready to move away from hinge I9 during thecontinued movement of shock absorber rod As the. driven carrier bar I is Anow held against further movement by an end stop, hinge I9 remains in xed position as shown by Figs. VIII and IX, and stop vI8 moves away from hinge I9 and on to the position of Fig. IX.

During the brief Ainterval that hinge I9 moves from the position of Fig. VII to that of Fig. VIII, the hinge I9 and stop I9 move together, and the speed of hinge I9 is substantially reduced, whereby the shock of- -impact when the driven carrier bar I is arrested by its end stop is also substantially reduced.

During the engagement of ,hinge I9 and stop mum of shock and vibration in the knitting machine.

As stop I6 moves from the position of Fig. VIII to that of Fig. IX, collar 50 (see Fig. V) engages machine frame bracket 52 to reset the shock absorber I5 in the previously described manner.

Hinge I9 and shock absorber rod I6 now reverse their directions of movement; and atthe completion of movement of hinge I9 to the left (looking at Figs. V `to IX), it coacts with stop II to produce the operation'and result just ex' plained in 'connection with stop I8.

For convenience in illustrating this invention, shock absorber I5 hasbeen shown in Fig. I as positioned toY the left of large rocker arm 9.

However, the shock absorber I5 may obviously be arranged at the other side of large rocker arm 9 should this positioning be preferred in actual practice of this invention.

Collars 50 and 5I, if desired, may be mounted on narrowing rod 23 at opposite sides of shock absorber I5 and coact with bracket members and 2| to function in the same .manner as previously described. In this case, collars 50 and 5I would coact with bracketv members 20 and 2| at the limits of movement of the latter members. Narrowing rod 23 according to conventional practice is held against longitudinal movement, but may, be rotated for the usual narrowing operation..

It will be understood thatl the foregoing description and' the accompanying drawings are only illustrative and that the appended claims cover other embodiments coming within the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination comprising two driven members and a driving me'mber for each, said driven members operating normally at different rates of speed and being subject to impact forces resulting from the differential in speed, said impact forces acting to alter the normal relative position of one of said driven members and its driving member, means providing a yielding driving connection betweenv conditions and permittingv relative pivotal move-V ment thereof to absorb said impact forces, and means for restoring the; normal driving relation of said carriage and elenient.

2. In a shock absorbing device for knitting machines, a carriage to have rectilinear, reciprocating movement, a driving element pivotally con.- nected to. said carriage for driving same, and yielding means for normally maintaining slaid carriage and element -in a xed driving relation and permitting relative pivotal, shock absorbing movement thereof when a predetermined force opposes movement of said carriage.

3. In a shock absorbing device for knitting machines, a carriage to be mounted on the machine for rectilinear, reciprocating movement, a drum rigidly mounted on said carriage, an element for driving said carriage and substantially encircling said drum to frictionally engage the same, said frictional engagement normally maintaining said carriage and element in a fixed driving relation and permitting .relative rotary, shock absorbing movement thereof when a predetermined force opposes movement of said carriage.

4. In a knitting machine, the combination of a driven member subject to impact forces during operation, a member for driving said driven member, and means connecting said members to transmit the drive therebetween and adapted to absorb said impact forces, said means comprising a reciprocable carriage secured to one of said members in driving relation, an arm secured in driving relation to the other of said members, an element mounted on said carriage and having a cylindrical outer surface, and ring-shaped means secured to said arm and encircling said sur-l face, said means frictionally gripping said surface to yieldingly maintain the arm and carriage in driving relation and adapted to slip on said surface when said driven member encounters a predetermined force.

5. In a shock absorbing device for knitting machines, a carriage to -be mounted on the machine for reciprocatory movement, a member rigidly supported by said carriage and having at least a portion thereof of circular cross section, an element for driving said carriage, said element having a portion substantially encircling said member portion and having frictional engagement therewith, said frictional engagement normally maintaining said carriage and element in a Xed driving relation and permitting pivotal shock-absorbing movement of said element about said member when a predetermined force opposes movement of the shock absorbing device.

6. In a shock absorbing device for knitting machines, the combination of a reciprocable carriage having a disc-shaped member rigidly mounted thereon, a band substantially encircling said member and having frictional engagement with the periphery thereof to drive said carriage and to maintain the friction band and carriage in a normal operative relation during reciprocation of said carriage and to slip relatively to said member when the device is subjected to impact forces.

'7. In a shock `absorbing device for knitting machines, the combination of a reciprocable carriage, a memberv rigidly supported by said carriage and having a circular perimeter, means substantially encircling said member and having frictional driving engagement therewith, and an arm supported by said means and adapted to drive said carriage, whereby said arm and carriage are yieldingly maintained in driving relation, and said means slips about said member when the shock absorber is subjected to impact shocks.

8. In a knitting machine, the combination of a driven member subject to impact forces during operation, a member for driving said driven member, and means connecting said members to transmit the drive therebetween and adapted to absorb said impact forces, said means comprising a reciprocable element having driving relation with one of said members, an arm pivotally connected to said reciprocable element and having two-way driving relation with the other of said members, and frictional means for maintaining said arm and reciprocable element in driving relation and adapted to yield to permit pivotal movement of said arm on said element when said driven member encountersa predetermined force.

9. In a knitting machine, the combination comprising two driven members and a driving member for each, said driven members operating normally at different rates of speed and the faster moving driven member having reciprocatory movement, said reciprocating member being adapted to engage the other driven member and to have its speed reduced thereby in both directions of said reciprocatory movement, and yielding means connecting the slower moving of said driven members to the respective driving member, said yielding meansbeing a single rotary frictional clutch device to yield and absorb shock when said faster moving driven member has its speed reduced in both directions of travel by said slower moving driven member.

FRANK G. WEISBECKER.. 

